Divest/Invest
Global mayors are declaring their commitment to divest from fossil fuels and invest in a sustainable future
09.22.20
True
$200 billion of COVID-19 recovery funding is being used to bail out fossil fuel companies. These mayors are combatting this and instead investing in green jobs and a just recovery.
Learn more on how cities are taking action: c40.org/divest-invest
Family
Five-year-old with autism speaks for the first time and his sense of pride is awe-inspiring
09.25.20
via Haley McGuire / TikTok
About a quarter of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are nonverbal, and while that number seems high, there's been sharp decline from a generation ago when the number was closer to half.
This positive shift is due to an increase in studies on ASD which have resulted in more effective therapeutic strategies.
Children with ASD are often nonverbal, but many go onto acquire language skills. Up to 70% of nonverbal children become fluent speakers or can use simple phrases.
<p>Having a child that is nonverbal or speech-delayed is terribly frustrating because you want them to be able to clearly communicate how they're feeling emotionally and physically. </p><p>It's also very hard to see them interact with other children without being able to express their full selves like everyone else.</p><p>So when a child with autism spectrum disorder makes their first language breakthrough it's a monumental moment for themselves and those close to them.</p><p>Photographer Haley McGuire shared her son Micah's wonderful achievement on TikTok and the inspiring video has been favorited over 730,000 times. </p><p>The first video she shared was of Micah repeating the names of his family members as they cheer in the background. Every time Micah gets a name right, he leaps in excitement and beams with pure pride.</p><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@haley_mcguire_photo/video/6874754963663293701" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6874754963663293701" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haley_mcguire_photo" target="_blank" title="@haley_mcguire_photo">@haley_mcguire_photo</a> We love you, Micah 💙 <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/autisim" target="_blank" title="autisim">##autisim</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/autistiktok" target="_blank" title="autistiktok">##autistiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/learningtospeak" target="_blank" title="learningtospeak">##learningtospeak</a><br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Iris-6781991508011649026" target="_blank" title="♬ Iris - Natalie Taylor">♬ Iris - Natalie Taylor</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>Since the video was first recorded, Micah has shown no signs of slowing his progress.<br></p><p>"It's been a day and a half now, and everything we ask him to say, he's copying," <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/5-year-old-boy-autism-says-his-name-first-time-this-heartwarming-tiktok-1533624" target="_blank">McGuire told Newsweek. </a></p><p>"He's not going out of his way to say anything on his own, but he's literally copying everything we say, which is crazy because he wasn't talking at all," McGuire continued. "Every now and then, he'd blurt out a word. But when I say 'wasn't talking,' he would go weeks without saying anything. This is crazy. He's been doing great."</p><p>The video of Micah repeating the names of his family members was followed up by a new recording where he says his name for the first time that's received over 2 million favorites.</p><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@haley_mcguire_photo/video/6874993603832319238" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6874993603832319238" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haley_mcguire_photo" target="_blank" title="@haley_mcguire_photo">@haley_mcguire_photo</a> Micah 💙 <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/autisim" target="_blank" title="autisim">##autisim</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/speak" target="_blank" title="speak">##speak</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ohio" target="_blank" title="ohio">##ohio</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/words" target="_blank" title="words">##words</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/proudparents" target="_blank" title="proudparents">##proudparents</a><br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6874993624443013893" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - haleymcguire23">♬ original sound - haleymcguire23</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>McGuire says Micah is a very loving child and it's easy to see ion the videos.<br></p><p>"Micah has always been a really sweet, tender-hearted, quiet kid," she said. "Obviously, he doesn't talk, but he kind of keeps to himself. He's always been extremely loving. I know that that's not necessarily normal for kids with autism. They like to not be touched and they like to be alone. But he's very affectionate and loving. It's been easy for us to be so happy and encouraging with him."</p><p>The videos have warmed a lot of people's hearts online and have been source of inspiration for the McGuire family. But, maybe the best part about the videos is they also give hope to families of children with an autism spectrum disorder, especially those who long for the day they can hear their child first speak.</p>
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Divest/Invest
Global mayors are declaring their commitment to divest from fossil fuels and invest in a sustainable future
09.22.20
True
$200 billion of COVID-19 recovery funding is being used to bail out fossil fuel companies. These mayors are combatting this and instead investing in green jobs and a just recovery.
Learn more on how cities are taking action: c40.org/divest-invest
Culture
Artist gives a modern twist to Disney's most beloved characters to explain today's world
09.18.20
Artist Tom Ward has used his incredible illustration techniques to give us some new perspective on modern life through popular Disney characters. "Disney characters are so iconic that I thought transporting them to our modern world could help us see it through new eyes," he told The Metro.
Tom says he wanted to bring to life "the times we live in and communicate topical issues in a relatable way."
In Ward's "Alt Disney" series, Prince Charming and Pinocchio have fallen victim to smart phone addiction. Ariel is living in a polluted ocean, and Simba and Baloo have been abused by humans.
<p>Not all the news is bad though. LeFou form "Beauty and the Beast" has finally come out of the closet and his crush, Gaston, appears to be pretty accepting of the revelation.</p><p>Although, was it really such a shock?</p><p>Ward believes that his illustration of Artur from "Sword and the Stone makes" a particularly strong point. "I also think the message of Arthur from The Sword in the Stone sitting on his phone has some resonance today," he said. "He's too engrossed in his phone to experience other opportunities and realize his true potential in life."</p><p>You can see more of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tomwardstudio/" target="_blank">Ward's work on Instagram.</a> Click through the photos to see the slideshow. </p>
1. Pinocchio's selfie
<div id="0b406" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a5fa2abeab2e8df2704ecfdbd876d8c4"><blockquote class="instagram-media"
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWZtAiCDOu5/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
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popular
An 89-year-old man delivered their pizza. They collected over $12,000 in tips for him.
09.25.20
Strangers helping out strangers is always a heartwarming thing. But when lots and lots of strangers come together to help one individual who needs and deserves a little hand up, we get a much-needed flood of warm, gushy best-of-humanity feelings.
Such is the case of an 89-year-old pizza delivery man, Derlin Newey, who happened to win the hearts of the Valdez family after he delivered them a pizza and struck up a conversation. Newey had no idea his friendly demeanor and obviously stellar work ethic would soon make him a TikTok star, nor did he expect an outpouring of donations from perfect strangers that relieve some of his burden.
Carlos Valdez shared the initial pizza delivery video, taken through the family's Nest doorbell, on TikTok about a week ago. "Hello, are you looking for some pizza?" Newey says when they answer the door, then chats with them for a while.
<div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@vendingheads/video/6872336040640793862" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6872336040640793862" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@vendingheads" target="_blank" title="@vendingheads">@vendingheads</a> What is this guy doing delivering Pizzas? True hustler 🙏 <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/delivery" target="_blank" title="delivery">##delivery</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nest" target="_blank" title="nest">##nest</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nestdoorbell" target="_blank" title="nestdoorbell">##nestdoorbell</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/amazon" target="_blank" title="amazon">##amazon</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/amazonprime" target="_blank" title="amazonprime">##amazonprime</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fedex" target="_blank" title="fedex">##fedex</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ups" target="_blank" title="ups">##ups</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/usps" target="_blank" title="usps">##usps</a><br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Wii-Mii-Channel-6744303202360887298" target="_blank" title="♬ Wii - Mii Channel - Super Guitar Bros">♬ Wii - Mii Channel - Super Guitar Bros</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>"What is this guy doing delivering pizzas? True hustler," Valdez wrote when he shared the video. He decided to find out.<br></p><p>When Valdez discovered that the elderly man worked five or six shifts a week for Papa John's, he and his family decided to do something kind for him. They set up a Venmo account for their TikTok followers to donate to—Valdez specified small donations of $.25, $.50, or $1.00—and they would just see what kind of a "tip" they could collect for Newey.<br></p><p>In a week, they raised an impressive $12,069 for Newey—and he had no idea. After a couple more deliveries (set up by the Valdezes on purpose so they could get more info), Newey invited the Valdezes to come share a meal at his house—because that's just the kind of guy he is. And when they showed up they brought a big fake check.</p><p>Newey's reaction is priceless:</p><div id="decbe" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5c0326f707f219a498caabcad3bb63ff"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFe2PZJA3-K/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Login • Instagram</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>They also gave him the cash in an envelope right then and there.</p><p>"How do I ever say thank you," said Newey, clearly moved. "I don't know what to say."</p><div id="1d5a2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3eb2ed11be64a9d4cd71466ea28db96b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1308542316492193792" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">89-year old Derlin Newey is a pizza delivery man who received a surprise delivery of his own today. A couple who go… https://t.co/hEajer2EiU</div> — Alex Cabrero (@Alex Cabrero)<a href="https://twitter.com/KSL_AlexCabrero/statuses/1308542316492193792">1600815774.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Newey lives alone and says he works about 30 hours a week delivering pizzas because his social security check isn't enough to support him. </p><p>"This couldn't have gone any better," Valdez told KSL. "He needed this. I'm just glad we could help him. We just need to treat people with kindness and respect the way he does. He stole our hearts."</p><p>Valdez posted <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@vendingheads/video/6875740865696926981?lang=en" target="_blank">a follow-up thank-you video</a> to his 60,000 followers on TikTok today.</p><p>"We did it. We all came together as a community to help a complete stranger that we didn't know. With everything that's going on in the world, I'm just glad that we pulled together, came together, to show some kindness during this time." After thanking everyone, he said he's received a lot of message from people who want to give something to help, so Valdez said he's going to keep the Venmo account open for people to donate, with all of the donations going directly to Newey. </p><p>Well done, Valdez family. Thank you for introducing us to the delightful Derlin Newey, and thank you for reminding us that people can be such forces for good.</p>
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